Thin stream direct contact fluid heater



Dec. 26, 1967 UNDEMAN ET AL 3,360,248

THIN STREAM DIRECT CONTACT FLUID HEATER Filed Oct. 255, 1964 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. flax/0L0 /V. Lax/05414 /A/A/7'// C Ban/MAW55240255 5. D6 145%.?

w V ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1967 UNDEMAN ET AL 3,360,248

THIN STREAM DIRECT CONTACT FLUID HEATER Filed Oct. '23, 1964 3heets-Sheet 2 KeA/A/ETZ/ C. fiom/Mzu/ I 5 6N455 5. De L4 7522s In 1,ATTORNEYS ,1967 M. LINDEMAN' Em 3,360,248

THIN STREAM DIRECT CONTACT FLUID HEATER Filed Oct. 23, 1964 3Sheets-Sheet 5 5e 5 &@

INVENTOR. #24040 /V. Z/A/06M4A/ Kama-m C 50140 44 552M455 S. .05 [4752a:

W Q I Z Z 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,360,248 THIN STREAM DIRECTCONTACT FLUID HEATER Arnold N. Lindeman, Sterling, Kenneth C. Bowman,Prophetstown, and Bernabe S. de la Torre, Harvard, Ill., assiguors toHoudaille Industries, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of MichiganFiled Oct. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 405,995 7 Claims. (Cl. 261-117) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE Steam injection-type heater for water in which a thinannular stream of steam is injected into the water in parallel relationwith respect to the flow of the water. The heater includes an open endedheater body having a hollow cylindrical nozzle support mounted withinthe body and spaced from the interior wall of the body and havingcommunication with a source of steam. The nozzle extends along theinterior of the support and has an exterior cylindrical end wallcooperating with an interior cylindrical wall of the support, and spacedin fixed predetermined relation with respect to the interior wall of thesupport to form a thin annular nozzle for the injection of steam intothe water flowing through the nozzle and around the outside of thenozzle and support. The nozzle is retained to the support by a hollownut threaded in the support and spaced from the nozzle, to accommodatelimited freedom of movement between the nozzle and the support, toreduce the transmission of-vibrations to the heater body. Vibrationdamping means in the form of an O-ring is interposed between the nut andthe upstream end of the nozzle body, to damp vibrations of the nozzleand thereby deaden the sound caused by vibration of the nozzle. In amodified form of the heater, annular orifices are at each end of thesupport.

Summary and objects of the invention A principal object of the inventionis to provide an improved form of fluid heater, which is particularlyadapted for connection in a fluid pipe line, to heat the fluid by thedirect contact of a film of steam therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved formof heater for fluid, such as water, in which the water is heated as itpasses along a conduit by steam in the form of a thin ribbon enteringand surrounded by the stream of water and flowing in the direction offlow of water along the conduit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple andimproved form of heater for water and the like, arranged with a viewtoward reducing the pressure drop heretofore present in such heaters tosubstantially zero, by injecting a thin ribbon of steam in the water inthe direction of flow thereof and inwardly of the marginal flow portionsof the water.

Still another object of the invention is to improve upon the waterheaters theretofore in use and reduce the noise and the pressure dropheretofore present, by injecting a thin annular ribbon of steam into thewater flowing along a conduit, inwardly of the margin of the conduit, tosurround the ribbon of steam with water to be heated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel form ofinline water heater in which the surface area to volume of Water ratioin contact with the steam is increased by injecting an annular ribbon ofsteam in the flow conduit for the water, inwardly of the margin of theconduit and flowing parallel to the flow of water through the conduit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved formof water heater having a nozzle assembly supported within the inner wallof a pipe, having oppositely facing nozzle portions injecting thinannular streams of steam in the direction and contra to the dire ctionof flow of the water along the pipe and surrounded by the water passingthrough the pipe.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved form of water heater adapted for insertion directly in a pipeline, in which quietness in operation of; the heater unit is attainedover a far wider range of operating conditions than has heretofore beenconsidered possible, by injecting a thin ribbon of steam in waterflowing through a pipe, inwardly of the margin of the stream and in thegeneral direction of the flow of water through the pipe.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to timeas the following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings where- FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross sectionalview taken through a fluid heater constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along lineIIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a modified formof fluid heater constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of fluidheater embodying the principles of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the heater shown in FIGURE 4, with theflanged connectors and communicating pipes removed; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken through still another form offluid heater incorporating the principles of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, we have generally shown a heater body 10 having an inlet11 at one end thereof and axially aligned outlet 12 at the opposite endthereof. The heater body 10 is in the general form of a conduit havingan internal cylindrical wall 13 and having a hollow boss 15 extendinginwardly of said wall, the hollow portion of which is threaded and formsa steam inlet 16. The boss 15 forms a support for a nozzle support 17'extending axially of the body 10 and shown as being generallycylindrical in form. The nozzle support 17 forms a support for nozzle 19extending along the interior thereof and having a generally cylindricalinterior wall 20 extending axially of the wall 13 along the centerthereof for the flow of fluid therethrough and outwardly flared at itsdischarge end, as indicated by reference numeral 21. The nozzle support17 has a generally cylindrical interior and a reduced diameter interiorcylindrical downstream end portion 22 extending about a generallycylindrical exterior wall portion 23 of the nozzle 19 and spacedradially outwardly therefrom a distance suiiicient to form with saidnozzle an annular orifice through which a thin annular ribbon of steammay issue, for heating the fluid passing along the wall 13 andsurrounding the ribbon of steam, as well as heating the fluid passingalong the interior wall 20 of the nozzle 19. Spacer lugs 25, 25 extendradially outwardly of the nozzle 19 upstream of the wall 23. The lugs25, 25 engage the internal cylindrical surface 22 of the support 17 andspace the wall 23 from the wall 22 the required distance to effect theissue of a thin ribbon of steam through the nozzle formed between thewall portions 22 and 23.

The nozzle support 17 has an annular rib 27 extending radially inwardlyof said wall, upstream of the inlet 16 and conforming to and engaging anenlarged diameter exterior cylindrical wall portion 29 of the nozzle 19.The

rear end portion of the nozzle has an annular rib or axial flange 30extending outwardly of the wall portion 29, which with the wall portion29 forms a shoulder for an O-ring 31, adapted to surround the Wallportion 29 and be interposed between the shoulders formed by the annularribs 27 and 30. A hollow retaining nut 32 is shown as being threaded inthe upstream end of the support 17, upstream of the inlet 16 and ashaving an O-ring 33 seated therein.

The retaining nut 32 serves merely to retain the nozzle in position, butdoes not clamp the nozzle tight to its support. The nut 32 insteadallows some floating movement of the nozzle, and while the O-rings 31and 33 may act as seals, their primary junction is to isolate vibrationand deaden sound.

In operation of the heater, the heater bodymay have the adjacent ends ofpipes (not shown) of a pipe line (not shown) threaded therein throughwhich the fluid to be' heated flows. A steam pipe (not shown) may bethreaded within the threaded inlet 16 extending along the hollow bossfor injecting steam in the annular space formed between the exteriorwall 26 of the nozzle 19 and the interior wall of the support 17, to beejected through the annular orifice formed in the space between thecylindrical walls 22 and 23 into the stream of flowing fluid, inwardlyof the wall 13 and outwardly of the center of the stream of flowingfluid, and thereby surrounded by the flowing fluid and surrounding theflowing fluid, to increase the heat transfer from the steam to thefluid, without the objectionable noise and pressure drop heretoforepresent in direct contact fluid heaters, and particularly heaters of thesteam injecting type.

In FIGURE 3 of the drawings we have shown a modified form in which theinvention may be embodied operating on principles similar to the form ofthe invention shown in FIGURE 1 except thin ribbons of steam areinjected into the flowing fluid inwardly of a cylindrical Wall 36 of aheater body 37 in the direction of flow of fluid through the heaterbody, and in a direction contra to the direction of flow of fluidthrough the heater body.

In this form of the invention, a steam inlet 39 leads through a hollowboss 40 leading into the heater body and terminating into a generallycylindrical support 41 for a nozzle 42 spaced inwardly of the interiorwall of the support. The outer wall of support 41, like the support 17,is spaced inwardly of the Wall 36 of the heater body 37 to accommodatethe flow of Water thereabout. The interior of the nozzle 42 has oppositeoutwardly flared end portions 43, 43 surrounded by generally cylindricalouter surfaces 44, 44 of the nozzle, spaced upstream and downstream ofthe liquid flow. The downstream end cylindrical wall portion 44cooperates with an interior wall portion 45 of the support 41 to form athin annular orifice for the issue of an annular ribbon of steamtherethrough. The upstream wall portion 44 cooperates with the interiorcylindrical wall portion 46 of a retainer 47, threaded within theupstream end of support 41, to form a narrow annular orifice for theissue of steam in the form of a thin ribbon therethrough, in a directionupstream of the flow of water through the nozzle 42. The retainer 47 isthreaded within the upstream end of the support 41. Clearance isprovided between the inner end of said retainer and spaced spacer lugs48 extending radially of the outer wall of the nozzle body. Clearance isalso provided between said spacer lugs and an annular shoulder 49extending inwardly of the support 41. This is to accommodate limitedfree movement of the nozzle 42 to prevent the transmission of vibrationto the heater body 37. Spacer lugs 50, 50 serve to space the downstreamend of the nozzle from the interior wall 45 of the support 41, tomaintain the desired spacing betwen the exterior cylindrical surface 44and the interior wall portion 45, as in the form of the inventionillustrated in FIGURES l and 2.

Steam entering the steam inlet 39 will thus pass in the space betweenthe nozzle 42 and interior wall 45 and will be ejected in the form ofthin streams parallel to the flow of fluid through the heater body,radially inwardly of the interior wall of the heater body, in directionscontra to the flow of fluid through the body and in the direction offlow of fluid through the body, and thus heating the fluid before itpasses about the support 41 and through the interior of the nozzle 42 aswell as after it leaves the support 41 and nozzle 42.

It should here be understood that in certain conditions more than oneheater may be provided in a pipe line where conditions require, as whereit is necessary to have a more rapid high temperature rise of the fluid.Where a high temperature rise is required, the heaters may be arrangedin series. Where it is required that there be a high flow rate, theheaters may be arranged in parallel. Also, the annular orifice of oneheater may face upstream and the annular orifice of a next succeedingheater may face downstream, where two heaters may be arranged in series.

In FIGURES 4 and 5, I have shown a heater body which may be connectedbetween flanges 81, 81 on the adjacent ends of pipes 82, 82 of a pipeline. The heater body has annular sealing faces 83, 83 at opposite endsthereof, adapted to be engaged by gaskets 84, 34 extending about theadjacent ends of the pipes 82, 82 and flanges 81, 81 extending radiallytherefrom. Studs extending through the flanges 81, 81 and having nuts86, 86 threaded on opposite ends thereof, draw the flanges and gasketsinto sealing engagement with opposite faces 83, 83 of the heater body80.

In this form of the invention, an inlet 87 enters the body 80 throughthe wall thereof and terminates into a cylindrical nozzle support 88having an internal cylindrical wall 89, cooperating with an externalcylindrical wall of a nozzle member 91. The nozzle member 91 is likenozzle member 19 and has a shouldered portion 92 near its upstream end.The end portion of the nozzle opposite from the external cylindricalwall is threaded to accommodate threading of the nozzle within thesupport 88.

The walls 89 and 90 thus form the margins of a thin annular steamorifice 98, forming the steam passing through said orifice into anannular ribbon injected into the water flowing along the inside andoutside of the orifice 98, nozzle member 91 and nozzle support 88.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 6, we have shownstill another form of the invention in which the heater may be connectedbetween adjacent flanged ends 53 of pipes 54 of a pipe line. In thisform of the invention, a heater body 55 is sealed to the adjacentflanged ends 53 of the pipe line by gaskets 56 maintained in sealingengagement with the opposite ends of the body 55 by studs 57 extendingthrough the flanges of the flanged ends of the pipes 54 and having nuts58 threaded thereon, drawing the flanges and gaskets 56 into engagementwith opposite ends of the heater body. In this form of the invention,the heater body has an inlet 59 and an axially aligned outlet 60, with ahollow boss 61 extending radially outwardly of the heater body 55 andhaving a threaded interior wall portion 63 forming an inlet into theheater body.

As shown in FIGURE 4, an annular insert 66 is mounted in the heater bodyinwardly of an interior wall 67 thereof and abutting an annnularshoulder 69 at the upsteam end of the wall 67 and suitably securedthereto. A similar annular insert or sleeve 70 is arranged coaxially ofthe insert 66 and abuts a downstream shoulder 71 extending perpendicularto the shoulder 67 and is secured thereto in a suitable manner. Theinner edge of the insert 66 has a recessed portion 73 generally arcuateand concave in form and terminating into a thin discharge lip 75.

The upstream edge of the insert 70 has an intake lip 76 terminating intoa concave generally arcuate Wall portion 77 extending parallel to thelip 75 at the discharge end of the insert and forming a slot or orifice79 for injecting an annular ribbon of steam into the fluid flowingthrough the pipes 54, 54 and heater body 55, in angular relation withrespect to the flow of water through the pipes 54, 54, or in oifparallel relation with respect to the flow, in contrast to the parallelannular ribbon injected into the flowing stream of fluid in the forms ofthe invention illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

It should here be understood that when defining the orifice walls ascylindrical, that this is a general form of terminology used forconvenience, but that we do not wish to be construed as limitingourselves to cylindrical wall portions or annular jets of steam and wishit to be understood that the walls of the nozzle and support, as well asthe interior wall of the nozzle body may 'be rectangular, hexagonal,octagonal and of various other desired shapes.

We further wish it to be understood that while we have herein shown anddescribed several forms in which the invention may be embodied, we donotwish to be construed as limiting ourselves to the specific formshown, but wish it to be understood that various other modifications andvariations in the invention may be attained without departing from thespirit and scope of the-novel concepts thereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a direct contact fluid heater,

a heater body,

a fluid inlet into said body through one end thereof,

a fluid outlet from said body through the opposite end thereof,

said body having a generally cylindrical wall between i said inlet andsaid outlet,

a hollow boss extending into said body through the Wall thereof andforming a steam inlet,

a hollow cylindrical support in the inner end of said boss and-having anexterior wall spaced radially inwardly of the cylindrical wall of saidbody and a generally interior cylindrical wall having communication withsaid hollow boss for the passage of steam therealong, a

a nozzle extending along said support and having an interior wallportion forming a fluid flow conduit,

an exterior wall portion in communication with the steam inlet andspaced inwardly of the interior wall of said support and with theinterior wall of said support forming an annular steam flolw passageway,

the exterior wall of said nozzle diverging adjacent the discharge endthereof and terminating into a cylindrical end wall portion parallelwith and cooperating with the interior cylindrical wall of said supportto form a thin annular orifice,

a hollow nut threaded in the opposite end of said support from saidorifice and retaining said nozzle to said support,

said nut being spaced from the end of said nozzle to accommodate limitedfreedom of movement of said nozzle with respect to said support,

spacer means maintaining a predetermined spacing between the cylindricalend wall portion of said nozzle and the interior cylindrical wallportion of said support in all positions of said nozzle relative to saidsupport,

and vibration damping means interposed between said nut and the upstreamend of said nozzle, damping vibration of said nozzle and therebydeadening the sound caused by vibration of said nozzle.

2. A direct contact fluid heater in accordance with claim 1 wherein thevibration damping means comprises an O-ring interposed between said nutand nozzle,

and another O-ring interposed between said nozzle and the interior wallof said support.

3. In a direct contact fluid heater,

a heater body,

a fluid inlet into said body through one end thereof,

a fluid outlet from said body through the opposite end thereof,

said body having a generally cylindrical wall between said inlet andsaid outlet,

a hollow boss extending into said body through the wall thereof andforming a steam inlet,

a hollow cylindrical support on the inner end of said boss and having anexterior wall spaced radially inwardly of the cylindrical wall of saidbody and a generally interior cylindrical wall having communication withsaid hollow boss for the passage of steam therealong,

a nozzle extending along said support and having an interior wallportion forming a fluid flow conduit,

an exterior wall portion in communication with the steam inlet andspaced inwardly of the interior wall of said support and with theinterior wall of said support forming an annular steam flow passageway,

the exterior wall of said nozzle diverging adjacent the discharge endthereof and terminating into a cylindrical end wall portion parallelwith and cooperating with the interior cylindrical wall of said supportto form a thin annular orifice,

a hollow nut threaded in the opposite end of said support from saidorifice and retaining said nozzle in said support,

' said nut being spaced from the end of said nozzle to ac- 1 lindricalend Wall portion of said nozzle and the interior cylindrical wallportion of said support,

and vibration damping means damping vibration of said nozzle and therebydeadening the sound caused byvibration of said nozzle, comprising anO-ring interposed between said nut and the upstream end of said nozzle.1

4. In a direct contact fluid heater,

a heater body having a generally cylindrical interior Wall portion,

a fluid inlet at one end of said body and a fluid outlet at the oppositeend of said body, a hollow boss extending into said body through thewall thereof and having an interior cylindrical support portionextending in upstream and downstream directions from said boss in axialalignment with the center of said body and spaced inwardly of thecylindrical wall of said body,

a nozzle extending along the interior of said support and supportedthereby and having an intermediate exterior wall portion spaced inwardlyof the interior support portion of said support and with said supportportion forming an annular steam passageway extending along saidsupport,

said nozzle also having a hollow interior portion for the passage ofwater therethrough and exterior cylindrical end wall portions atopposite ends thereof, spaced outwardly of said intermediate wallportion and inwardly of the cylindrical interior wall of said support,

and spacer lugs at opposite ends of said nozzle spacing said exteriorend cylindrical wall portions of said nozzle in predetermined radialspaced relation with respect to the cylindrical interior wall of saidsupport and forming annular orifices directing thin annular streams ofsteam into the fluid flowing through said body contra to and in thedirection of flow of the fluid therethrough.

5. A direct contact fluid heater comprising,

a heater body,

a fluid inlet leading into said body through one end thereof,

an axially aligned fluid outlet leading from the opposite end of saidbody,

said body having an interior wall portion between said inlet and saidoutlet forming a conduit for the flow of fluid from said inlet throughsaid outlet,

support spaced inwardly of the wall of said conduit and having a hollowinterior portion in communication with said fluid inlet,

nozzle mounted in and extending along said support and having aninterior wall portion for the flow of fluid therethrough and an exteriorwall portion spaced a substantial distance from the hollow interior ofsaid support for the flow of steam therealong and having upstream anddownstream exterior wall portions conforming generally to the interiorportion of said support and with said interior portion of said supportforming thin nozzles directing thin ribbons of steam into the fluidflowing through said body contra to and in the direction of flow offluid through said body inwardly of the interior wall of said body.

In a direct contact fluid heater,

a heater body, a fluid inlet into said body through one end thereof, afluid outlet from said body through the opposite end thereof,

said body having a generally cylindrical wall between said inlet andsaid outlet,

hollow boss extending into said body through the wall thereof andforming a steam inlet,

hollow cylindrical support on the inner end of said boss and having anexterior wall spaced radially inwardly of the cylindrical wall of saidbody and a generally interior cylindrical wall having communication withsaid hollow boss for the passage of steam therealong,

nozzle extending along said support and having an interior wall portionforming a fluid flow conduit,

an exterior wall portion in communication with the steam inlet andspaced inwardly of the interior Wall of said support and with theinterior wall of said support forming an annular steam flow passageway,

the exterior cylindrical wall of said nozzle diverging at opposite endsthereof and terminating into upstream and downstream end cylindricalwall portions,

spacer lugs at opposite ends of said nozzle spacing said end cylindricalwall portions of said nozzle from the interior cylindrical wall portionof said support,

a downstream end cylindrical exterior wall portion of said nozzlecooperating with one end of the interior wall of said support to form anannular steam orifice,

a nut threaded in the opposite end of said support and retaining saidnozzle to said support, said nut having an interior cylindrical wallportion cooperating with the upstream end cylindrical wall portion ofsaid nozzle and with said end cylindrical wall portion forming anannular orifice discharging steam into said body in a direction upstreamof the direction of flow of water through said body,

and said other end exterior cylindrical wall portion of said nozzlecooperating with the interior cylindrical 'wall portion of said supportand forming a thin annular orifice directing an annular ribbon of steamin the water flowing through said body in the direction of the flow ofwater through said body.

7. A direct contact fluid heater in accordance with claim 6 wherein saidnut is spaced axially of said nozzle and accommodates limited freedom ofmovement of said nozzle to reduce the transmission of vibrations fromsaid nozzle to said heater body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,655,053 1/ 1928 Fleming.1,791,949 2/ 1931 Boulade 261-76 2,060,557 11/1936 Davis 261-76 XR2,293,314 8/1942 Spence 261-116 XR 2,301,315 11/1942 Opp 26176 XR3,074,697 1/ 1963 Friedell 26176 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 385,177 11/ 1923Germany.

0 1 HAR=RY B. THORNTON, Primazy Examiner.

E. H. RENNER, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A DIRECT CONTACT FLUID HEATER, A HEATER BODY, A FLUID INLET INTOSAID BODY THROUGH ONE END THEREOF, A FLUID OUTLET FROM SAID BODY THROUGHTHE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, SAID BODY HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL WALLBETWEEN SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET, A HOLLOW BOSS EXTENDING INTO SAIDBODY THROUGH THE WALL THEREOF AND FORMING A STEAM INLET, A HOLLOWCYLINDRICAL SUPPORT IN THE INNER END OF SAID BOSS AND HAVING AN EXTERIORWALL SPACED RADIALLY INWARDLY OF THE CYLINDRICAL WALL OF SAID BODY AND AGENERALLY INTERIOR CYLINDRICAL WALL HAVING COMMUNICATION WITH SAIDHOLLOW BOSS FOR THE PASSAGE OF STREAM THEREALONG, A NOZZLE EXTENDINGALONG SAID SUPPORT AND HAVING AN INTERIOR WALL PORTION FORMING A FLUIDFLOW CONDUIT, AN EXTERIOR WALL PORTION FORMING A FLUID FLOW CONDUIT,STEAM INLET AND SPACED INWARDLY OF THE INTERIOR WALL OF SAID SUPPORT ANDWITH THE INTERIOR WALL OF SAID SUPPORT FORMING AN ANNULAR STEAM FLOWPASSAGEWAY,